Fearful Horses. (venting)

Recently my "second mom" bought a beautiful gelding. He is a super horse for the most part- whomever had him to begin with really worked him well- training, etc.
I am not sure how it happened- If it was her daughter or the people that had Sun before her- but he was pretty badly injured on his left back leg. It looks like someone put a rope around his leg and let it grow into the flesh- I think he was abused. They said he got caught in some old farm equipment and was cut- Cut all the way around and up- just like major rope burn??! Hmm, I doubt it this was an accident.
When Pat got him, no one could really mess with him- he was so scared. After having him a while he has calmed down considerably. I believe at one time Sun was a "perfectly sound" horse, but now he is very spooky.
I was riding him and I reached down to smack a fly- he spooked. A bird spooked him- trees spook him- everything spooks him. (Except gun shots, believe it or not!)
Thankfully when Sun spooks he jumps away from where a person falls, then stands stock still and lets you remount.
His leg is sound- he just has some proud flesh they are dealing with. Unsightly. He is still too thin too. When Pat got him- he was so thin she was scared to trailer him from Fl to Tennessee for fear of getting into trouble. I mean, count all the bones in his body thin. Disgusting.
They are really working Sun over into a great animal. I ride him instead of the "pretty" horses she has. She was thrown off him a while back and had to have surgery. Crushed her elbow/arm. Had to have therapy- etc. All because a stupid stick spooked him. I've fallen twice (my fault,LOL!). I went into lala land while we were riding and he spooked- well I was wearing some flat bottomed tennis shoes- Slipped right outta the saddle and into the briars! LOL. My hand is still scarred from it, hehe.
Man, horses are great.
The more I work with Sun- the more I appreciate the life God has given me. Watching him go from scared to level- well, it makes life worth it. Thank you God. -Jocie.

BTW- Pat is letting me put a horse on her land whenever I find "Mr.Right Horsiepoo". I can't wait! That means no stud though. :-( Only a Gelding or a Mare. Oh well, Gelding it is! LOL I'm looking for a Bald Face Paint. So pretty. Watch me end up getting a broken down dun mare now. HAHAHA!
I can feed a horse here for about $26.00 a month! Thats CHEAP! Rant/Ramble over. :-)